Cricket | Sunfoil Series

Warriors surge to 413 all out

A brilliant, late-innings 86-run blitz from Chevrolet Warriors number 11 Ayabulela Gqamane saw the visitors power to 413 all out at the close of play on day two of their Sunfoil Series match against the Nashua Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday, a lead of 191 runs.

The foundation was laid earlier in the day after a superb, fighting knock of 105 from Arno Jacobs in blisteringly hot conditions saw the visitors go to tea at 247 for seven, a lead of just 25 runs with three wickets remaining.

The end of the innings loomed at 265 for eight when Basheer Walters was caught by substitute Eden Links off the bowling of Ethy Mbhalati for 21 spirited runs.

However, Simon Harmer was then joined by Gqamane in the 87th over, and together the pair carted the Titans attack for 129 runs off 26.3 overs to take back control of the match.

Gqamane was the brilliant aggressor - facing 89 balls and striking 11 fours and two sixes in his 109-minute stay at the crease. Harmer was content to play the anchor role, rotating the strike and defending the good balls to move to well-deserved half-century off 109 balls which included six fours. He eventually finished not out on 66, including eight fours.

It was a thrilling, match-changing partnership that put immense pressure on the home side, with the Warriors now pushing hard for the outright win to keep in touch with log-leaders, the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras.

Resuming on 87 for one this morning, Michael Price and Jacobs put on 106 for the second wicket before David Wiese claimed his first wicket of the match, that of Price, for a well-played 61. The opener faced 103 balls and stroked 10 boundaries.

Jacobs batted throughout a tough morning session which saw the Titans pick up four wickets, before being joined by Adrian McLaren before lunch, which the Warriors took at 151 for five, still 71 runs adrift of the Titans' 222 all out.

After lunch, the pair put on a 101-run partnership off 31.3 overs before Jacobs was finally out, caught behind off the bowling of Shaun Liebisch. Jacobs batted for 333 minutes and faced 224 balls in his marathon innings, and struck 16 boundaries.

McLaren departed a sweltering SuperSport Park just four balls later with the score on 232 for seven, caught by Paul Harris off the bowling of Farhaan Behardien for a gutsy 37 off 91 balls, with four boundaries.

On a day when all the Titans bowlers toiled in the hot conditions, CJ De Villiers was the pick, with 2-56 off 18 overs, while Mbhalati finished with 2-65 off 21 overs. Wiese, Liebisch, Harris and Behardien all chipped in with one wicket apiece

Gurshwin Rabie was the last man out, bowled by Van der Merwe for a duck, the offspinner claiming his second wicket for the day off 23.2 overs at a cost of 86.

The home side won the toss on Thursday and decided to bat first, and were dismissed for 222 in their first innings. Roelof van der Merwe top scored with 51, with contributions from Behardien who made 39 and David Wiese's 35 proving invaluable.